So I took a break from Arrested Development...

Update: Timberwolves GM David Kahn will likely get off the hook. He'll end up trading Rubio for some good players and have a starting point guard to show from the draft. But could it be that Kahn is actually smart? So smart that he saw all this coming -- Rubio not signing, teams lining up for him -- and now knows he can get a good deal for Rubio? I doubt it, but who knows?

-- I'm not hear to whine about last year's Mark DeRosa trade. When Cubs GM Jim Hendry dealt the utility man last summer, it was to free up space for Milton Bradley. The deal has clearly not worked in the Cubs favor, but that's neither here nor there. I just find it funny that on the same weekend the Cardinals make a deal for DeRosa to add some sort of credibility to their lineup outside of "The Machine," the Cubs send Aaron Miles, who was supposed to be DeRosa's replacement, to the DL (which is code for "You're batting .203 and you suck"). Actually, this is what's code for "You Suck" -- when a google image search for your name, "Aaron Miles," first produces a picture of the former Kansas Jayhawks point guard.

-- Out of all the hoopla surrounding Michael Jackson's death, the one thing that sticks out to me is his legacy. For the past two decades, any mention of Jackson was almost always negative or was accompanied by a child molestation joke. But suddenly, every media outlet in the world praises him as a cultural icon, someone who changed the world of music and performance forever, etc, etc. All those things are mostly true, but it's like the past 20 years never happened.

-- Am I happy with who the Bulls drafted? It's another, "eh" draft. I don't hate either pick, but I don't like them. I don't get the feeling either player will make much of an impact in the league. Ideally, I didn't want the Bulls to draft anyone. It's just two more rookies that the Bulls will have to develop when they should be spending their energy trying to get further in the playoffs. The money used on those two contracts could have been spent this summer or next. And there had to be takers, I mean, the Timberwolves have spent the last week justifying their selection of two point guards, and it STILL makes no sense. Are James Johnson and Taj Gibson going to push the Bulls further in the playoffs? No. But Chris Bosh will.

-Pros

The fifth sport?

Behind the NFL, the NBA, MLB and the NHL, soccer has comfortably taken a hold on US's fifth biggest sport. Haha, not yet.

Soccer will be out of the mainstream media by Tuesday. But for the time being, today's Confederations Cup Final between Brazil and USA is the talk of the town.

I'm usually not one for moral victories. As an athlete, that's the last thing you want. I hate using this saying, but Herm Edwards was right -- "You play to win the game." But this is different.

It's been waaaaay too long since US Soccer was as strong a force in the media as it is today. Although the attention will be gone in 24 hours, Team USA did accomplish something. Their performance won't change the way US Soccer is viewed or anything drastic like that, but casual soccer fans, like me, were glued to the TV today. Ashton Kutcher and Bill Simmons among others were tweeting their way through the match, and ESPN Radio and SportsCenter were all over the game. Soccer will be out of sight, out of mind soon enough, but people will remember this past week when the World Cup roles around next year.

I'd like to think my interest in soccer is that of most sports fans. I could care less about it unless it's a big match/tournament. This past week, Team USA showed up in two huge matches, and I was totally into it. My brother and I were playing NBA Live 2009 this morning, and we ALWAYS look at the stats afterwards. But today, we bypassed that normal step to watch the game. We freaked out when Clint Dempsey redirected the first goal. I probably won't watch another US soccer match until the World Cup, but when the team goes back to South Africa next year, I'll remember this weekend and watch again.

On another, more important note, at what point does a soccer player become "great." Kaka has become "The Great Kaka" according to today's announcers. How does Bill Gates become "The Great Bill Gates?" How has Bill Gates not earned that name yet? Ah, soccer is so confusing!

-Pros

Why Zen works

Phil Jackson is dating Jeannie Buss, the 39-year old daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
He lives in Los Angeles.
He's coaching the second-best player in the NBA.
He's dating a 39-year old and he's, yes, 63. Somewhere Celine Dion is smiling and saying "I told you I wasn't weird!"

But Jackson is more than a stud, he's the greatest NBA coach -- ever. Those who disagree will say the late Red Auerbach, who coached the Boston Celtics to nine championships, was the best.

Red won eight titles in a row with Boston, a feat that will likely never be topped. (But let's not kid ourselves, Jackson would have won eight straight in Chicago had Jordan not gone and played that other sport.)

Jackson has 10 titles in the salary cap/free agent era, where players constantly jump ship for money. Red coached essentially the same core group for most of the championships, Russell, K.C. Jones, Sam Jones, John Havlicek and Bob Cousy. Jackson has won titles with four different groups: the 1991-93 Bulls, the 1996-98 Bulls, the 2000-02 Lakers and the 2009 Lakers. Nothing against Red, but winning 10 titles in this era is significantly harder than it was in the '60s.

Everyone wants to say Jackson had all the talent. He had Jordan, Pippen, Shaq and Kobe on his side. But no one brings up the fact that when the NBA announced the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, FOUR were from Red's dynasty with the Celtics.

Red had Russell, who for all we know is pretty much the greatest teammate ever. Dealing with egos wasn't as difficult as it is nowadays, and when you have a guy like Russell on your team, it makes it that much easier. Look who Phil had to deal with. Jordan -- who wouldn't pass to his teammates at the end of a game (much like a certain #24 on the Lakers) until Phil got there. He somehow got Dennis Rodman to buy into his philosophy and help win three titles. He made sure Scottie Pippen, who would have put up far better numbers had he been the man (he set career highs in scoring and rebounding in 1994, when Jordan was playing baseball), never let the fact that he was Jordan's Robin effect the team. Then he somehow got Kobe and Shaq to coexist. Everyone knows the two didn't get along, but he got the two to play together.

Some believe that you can't argue which coach was better, I for one thought Phil was the best before this year. But now that he has 10, the fact remains that Phil has more titles than Red in a much harder environment.

Big gulps, eh?

Without any true connection to either the Red Wings or Penguins, my mind was free to wander after Game 7 on Friday. It was neat to see Sidney Crosby accept the Stanley Cup as the youngest captain in NHL history and to see Mario Lemieux hoist it above his head. But the multiple awkward moments truly made it a memorable experience.

To begin with, we have to watch Marian Hossa shake hands with the Penguins, the team he played with for four months last season. Next, NBC microphones pick up Red Wings coach Mike Babcock telling Crosby, "that's great leadership." Crosby says thanks, but doesn't really look Babcock in the eye. You almost feel bad for him, like he was trying to be nice and Crosby just didn't reciprocate.

A few minutes later, Evgeni Malkin, who had the highest playoff point total since the L.A. Kings' Wayne Gretzky in 1993, was presented with the Conn Smythe Award. So....Crosby....yeah. He's kind of the posterboy of the NHL, so was he really happy for his teammate? NBC did a good job of showing his reaction, and he looked pretty happy for him. But still, fun to ponder.

This part happens every year, but there are few things as uncomfortable to watch as when the Stanley Cup gets passed around. It starts with the captain, who usually passes it on to an elder teammate. Once the old guys have their chance, it starts to get interesting. The player looks at his group and thinks "Hmm...you weren't important, you were, you weren't, oh, ok, I'll give it to you."

When NBC's on-ice reporter interviewed Marc Andre Fleury it was like listening to Ozzy Osbourne during the seventh-inning stretch.

And who will ever forget poor old Gary Bettman. You knew he was the most disappointed person inside Joe Louis Arena when Pittsburgh won. He knew he'd get hear the boo birds, but presenting the Stanley Cup to the Penguins in Detroit? You know who else knew? The two guys who were smirking while carrying the Cup onto the ice..."Oh man, I can't wait to see that little guy behind the mic!" Bettman literally had to scream to be heard over the booing, and if that wasn't enough, his whole body shakes when he screams.

Love me some NHL.
-Pros

Anyone can jump out of a pool

We all know the Jarron Gilbert can jump out of a pool. Just in case you've never seen it, here it is.

When this video came out, it was one of the most impressive things I had ever seen.

A few days ago, this video surfaced of Washington Redskin wide receiver Keith Eloi. Sorry Gilbert, but you got owned.

Second-best? Yup.

Believe it or not people, but you're watching the second-greatest shooting guard to ever play in the NBA — J.J. Redick. Coach K just smacked his forehead. I mean Adam Morrison. His tailor just smacked his forehead.

The Black Mamba, ladies and gentlemen. He's here all week, or until he breaks his jaw from clenching it too hard.

Whether the Lakers win this series is irrelevant. Bryant's name is firmly etched in stone as the best shooting guard not named Michael Jordan. Jerry West is his toughest competition, but Bryant tops him.

West was a 14-time all-star, and one of the toughest and competitive players to play the game.
He also hit a 60-foot buzzer-beater to send Game 3 of the 1970 Finals against the Knicks into overtime, which only added to his legendary status as "Mr. Clutch." His numbers were staggering (27ppg, 5.8rpg, 6.7apg) and are better than Bryant's (25.1, 5.3, 4.6). But here's where Mr. West loses ground — he was 1-7 in the NBA Finals. If you want to play the But-wait-Kobe-had-Shaq-card, well, West had Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain, so explain that. Bryant is 3-2 right now, and that will likely improve to 4-2 in the next few days.

Figuring out the best at a certain position is hard. There are so many factors. Some people lean heavily on pure statistics while others label team success as the main barometer. It has to be a mix of both. West had better numbers, but played his whole career with two Hall of Famers. Bryant's best year, 2005-06, was with this team. Shivvers. Of course Bryant's numbers were inflated because of the inferior nature of his teammates, but it also says something that when Kobe was the man, he absolutely dominated. It's an unfair point because West never had that opportunity, but West also played with Baylor and Wilt and ended with just one title.

When I stop and think about it, labeling Bryant behind Jordan still seems ridiculous. It feels like only yesterday he was a cocky first-year guard who airballed like 3000 shots in a game one time. But then again, if Nike turns you into a puppet, you've got to be pretty good.

Maturity won't be the problem folks

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I love this time of the year. Not only do you have the NBA Playoffs, NHL Playoffs, and division races in the MLB heating up, but the NFL is still taking up headlines as well!

Tony Dungy, former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, has decided he will be joining NBC as a studio football analyst. Yesterday he came on "Waddle & Silvy," a morning sports talk show in Chicago and was asked about a variety of football topics. Being interviewed by a Chicago station, of course the talk steered towards the new quarterback in town, Mr. Jay Cutler:

"[The Bears] took a risk [trading for Cutler]. I think they took that risk specifically with beating the Green Bay Packers in mind," Dungy said. "I really think Chicago gave up a lot to get a quarterback who they believe is going to be the final piece of the puzzle. But I am not sure he has won enough to merit that yet."

When asked specifically about him having the maturity to lead the Bears, he had this to say:

"That remains to be seen. He is a very talented guy who can throw the ball very well. But quarterbacking is so much about leadership and so much about doing things under pressure. There is going to be a lot of pressure on him," Dungy said. "We'll see about his maturity level. That's what I would question. And some of the things that happened leading to him leaving Denver ... that would concern me as a head coach," Dungy added, according to the report. "He can make all of the throws, but quarterbacking is much more than just making throws."

Here is the link to the article on ESPN.com and radio bit.

Welcome back to the football world Coach Dungy, glad to see your back! People close to me know I have been supporting the trade that brought Cutler over from Denver, even after that messy divorce. They paid a high price but a price that will be worth it if Cutler continues to grow as a player the way he has his first several seasons in the league.

However, people have been on both sides of the fence when it comes to Cutler and how he handled the situation with new Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. Supposedly, after the last coach, Mike Shanahan, was fired, Cutler asked owner Pat Bowlen for assurance that no one else from the offensive staff would be let go. Bowlen said sure and soon after the staff was axed. McDaniels then comes on board, tells Cutler he is excited to work with him and develop him into an even better quarterback. Word comes out soon after that McDaniels had been actively trying to trade Cutler in hopes to bring Matt Cassel, the quarterback he worked with at his last stop, the New England, to the Broncos.

What followed was a he said this, he said that dialogue between Cutler, McDaniels, and Bowlen. Lot of bad talk, ignored phone calls and text messages, and essentially feelings hurt. It was quite the soap opera that had the NFL world hooked, seeing what would happen next and where Cutler would end up. The result was a Cutler trade to the Chicago.

Here's what I think of that situation: No one handled the situation perfectly, not even Jay Cutler. That said, if the information that came out is true, that Bowlen went back on his word about the offensive staff and that McDaniels came in thinking to himself that Cutler was not ideal for his offense and wanted to trade him from the start, then I got some real beef with that. New coaches who come in and make wholesale changes rarely have immediate and/or long-term success. I think how Mike Tomlin, the head coach of the defending world champion Pittsburgh Steelers, handled getting the job several years back. Tomlin was a defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings and a strong supporter of the 4-3 defense. He did not come in saying they must switch from the 3-4, a staple in Pittsburgh throughout the years. He also had dinner with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, outlining what he wants to do and hear what has been successful. He got on the same page with everyone right from the start.

McDaniels needs to do a lot to make up for running the franchise quarterback out of town. If McDaniels hadn't gotten hired, Cutler would still be there most likely. The fact remains that Cutler was extremely well liked by the fans and more importantly his teammates. He was getting better every year, already with a Pro Bowl appearance under his belt. The trade the Chicago Bears made for Cutler is a once in a lifetime kind of deal. You do not see 26 year old quarterbacks who aren't even in their prime yet go on the trade market. YOU JUST DON'T. Teams usually cater to these guys, these potential superstars, knowing they will be the face of the franchise for the next decade. They know these guys will make or break season ticket sales and fan support for the years ahead. Why do you think the Los Angeles Lakers picked Kobe Bryant over Phil Jackson and Shaquille O'Neal?

We clearly don't know everything that happened behind the scenes in Denver. Some of the media and some fans began to label Cutler as a "crybaby" or a "prima donna." Again, I say maybe he didn't handle the situation perfectly but he is afforded some respect and deserves some honesty. Denver made a commitment to him, both verbally and by rewarding him with a new deal, and then they hire a young guy to run the team and who wants to run him out of town. Something isn't right.

Now regarding what Coach Dungy said, there is no doubt the Bears took a risk. Any time you give up your quarterback and two first round draft picks, you are taking a risk. In regards to his maturity level, time will tell. Again, this guy had teammates who loved him and the same with his coaching staff. I believe Bears general manager Jerry Angelo when he says they did their homework and believe this is an isolated situation. Like I said, it's not every day when a 26 year old Pro Bowl quarterback is available. Angelo knows what character issues can do to a team and I have faith that he won't bring a guy with maturity or leadership issues on board.

I'm more excited for this upcoming season than any one in recent memory. I've already seen a Cutler jersey on the streets of Chicago and they will begin to pop up everywhere. Bears fans should have faith in this guy and believe in him and the team. All too often we are too negative about this stuff and want to jump on an individual and/or an organization. I think the Bears got this one right. If Jay Cutler fails in Chicago, it won't be because of "maturity" issues.